Memory Boost

Memorize Scripture! It is very important. We must be prepared to give an answer (1 Peter 3:15) to every sincere question we are asked (Colossians 4:6). So equip yourself with the Word of God. Memorize some verses or whole passages to help defend your faith, or when it comes to witnessing to others, or when your heart asks you to preach.

But be careful when you pray for wisdom and knowledge. For wisdom can become your idol. And even praying about a sin over and over and not truly repenting can become your idol. Something you pray for too often can consume your mind and thoughts all day, everyday. Remember who you are praying to. Remember your relationship with God.

Boasting
Remember when sharing your faith or defending it that we should not boast on it. You do not support the faith, but the faith supports you. Do not blind yourself in your own ignorance. You must represent a blooming seed—a scion of your faith.

16 For if the firstfruit is holy, the lump is also holy; and if the root is holy, so are the branches. 17 And if some of the branches were broken off, (Eph 2:12) and you, being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them, and with them became a partaker of the root and richness fatness of the olive tree, 18 do not boast against the branches. But if you do boast, remember that you do not support the root, but the root supports you. 19 You will say then, “Branches were broken off that I might be grafted in.” 20 Well said. Because of unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by faith.
Romans 11:16-20 (NKJV)

Therefore, as the Scriptures say, “If you want to boast, boast only about the Lord.”
1 Corinthians 1:31

But those who wish to boast
should boast in this alone:
that they truly know me and understand that I am the Lord
who demonstrates unfailing love
and who brings justice and righteousness to the earth,
and that I delight in these things.
I, the Lord, have spoken!
Jeremiah 9:24

Two is Better Than One

Ecclesiastes 4:9 - 12
9 Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: 10 If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! 11 Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? 12 Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

Ecclesiastes 4:9 is about spiritual fruit. Teamwork is critical in overcoming any type of sin. Ecclesiastes 4:11 refers to spiritual warmth or Christian zeal. It asks the question, "How can one keep warm alone?" The question is rhetorical, and is designed to teach that it is easy to become lukewarm toward Jesus if "alone," but together people can spur one another on toward loving Him more. We can help each other "stay warm" together.

"Two are better than one, and more happy jointly than either of them could be separately, more pleased in one another than they could be in themselves only, mutually serviceable to each other's welfare, and by a united strength more likely to do good to others" - Matthew Henry

Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted.
Galatians 6:1

"If two lie together, they have heat. So virtuous and gracious affections are excited by good society, and Christians warm one another by provoking one another to love and to good works." - Matthew Henry

We have discovered that two working together can produce spiritual fruit (vs. 9), that two together can provide spiritual restoration (vs. 10), that togetherness can prompt spiritual zeal (vs. 11), and now we will see that two working together can provide spiritual protection.

"United strength. If an enemy find a man alone, he is likely to prevail against him; with his own single strength he cannot win, but, if he have a second, he may do well enough: two shall withstand him." Matthew Henry

Notice this biblical story which reinforces the truth we have been studying:

Joab saw that there were battle lines in front of him and behind him; so he selected some of the best troops in Israel and deployed them against the Arameans. 10 He put the rest of the men under the command of Abishai his brother and deployed them against the Ammonites. 11 Joab said, 'If the Arameans are too strong for me, then you are to come to my rescue; but if the Ammonites are too strong for you, then I will come to rescue you.' 12 Be strong and let us fight bravely for our people and the cities of our God. The LORD will do what is good in his sight." 2 Sam. 10:9-12

The end result of this battle was victory for the Israelites. Joab, in essence, said, "You help me with my enemy, and I'll help you with yours." And so, together, they were victorious, whereas separately they would have been conquered. This is an important aspect of an accountability relationship. We should provide one another with spiritual protection from our mutual enemy. The way we do this is to pray for each other, share "battle tips" that helped us, take each other to the Word of God, and help each other radically amputate the causes of sin. This is a winnable war. But it takes two!

"We Christians need each other. There is strength in numbers. When isolated and separated from our brothers, we are easy pickings for the Enemy of our souls." (Robert Daniels The War Within)

Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. 25 Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another - and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
Hebrews 10:23-25

As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.
Proverbs 27:17

We need friends who can be accountable for us. We need to put away our pride and "man up" to our weakness and tell someone about our sins. We need fellowship and someone we can trust to help lift us up when we are down.

A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.
Ecclesiastes 4:12 (NLT)

Resource: http://www.settingcaptivesfree.com/

Godly Sorrow

2 Corinthians 7:8-13
8 Even if I caused you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it. Though I did regret it, I see that my letter hurt you, but only for a little while 9 yet now I am happy, not because you were made sorry, but because your sorrow led you to repentance. For you became sorrowful as God intended and so were not harmed in any way by us. 10 Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. 11 See what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what concern, what readiness to see justice done. At every point you have proved yourselves to be innocent in this matter. 12 So even though I wrote to you, it was not on account of the one who did the wrong or of the injured party, but rather that before God you could see for yourselves how devoted to us you are. 13 By all this we are encouraged.

True Repentance
Remove the obstacles out of the way of your path so that God can prepare the road to salvation (Isaiah 57:14-15). Sin, pride and hardness of heart always go together (Hebrews 3:13). Genuine repentance brings with it lowliness and contriteness.

My sorrow was in that I was offending God and was not getting close to Him at all. When I confessed in this area, I fell to my knees with a broken heart, wanting to be delivered and desiring a closer relationship with God.

Ecclesiastes 5:1-2,7
Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Go near to listen, rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools, who do not know that they do wrong. Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God. God is in heaven, and you are on earth, so let your words be few. Much dreaming, and many words are meaningless. Therefore stand in awe of God!

Bearing Good Fruit

Witnessing isn't always about preaching. One important way to witness to others is by the way we act. The way we present ourselves in public should be in the example of Jesus. We as Christians are supposed to represent what God is like. Jesus was a prime example because.. well he was God in the flesh! And what better way to learn how to be a good witness is to examine what good fruits you produce. Do you bear the seven key fruits? "For every tree is known by its own fruit" (Luke 6:44).

Luke 7:6-7
6 He also spoke this parable: A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. 7 Then he said to the keeper of his vineyard, ‘Look, for three years I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree and find none. Cut it down; why does it use up the ground?’

If you are not bearing good fruit, then you have not truly repented and turned away from evil.

In Mark 1, a leper came to Jesus, imploring Him, kneeling down to Him and saying to Him, “If You are willing, You can make me clean” (Mark 1:40). Jesus can make you clean from your sins. He can make you clean. He is willing and able. He is the only one who can(and did) take away your sins and redeem you if you surrender your will to Him. Strive to praise Him and only Him. You will soon bear fruit if you acknowledge Him and worship Him as your Saviour. Prayer and feasting in His word everyday are important if you want to grow with the Lord.

The Relationship of Believers of Christ

John 15:1-11
1 I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.

So abide with Jesus and you will bear more fruit. If you are saved by Jesus, then Jesus is in you. He is in you by the deliverance of the Holy Spirit.

The Promise of the Holy Spirit

John 15:26-27
26 But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me. 27 And you also will bear witness, because you have been with Me from the beginning.

Self Examination
Let me ask you to examine yourself. Are you really a Christian? Do you bear fruit? Are you living a holy life? Are you living in a Godly manner? Do you live for Christ, or for yourself? Are you repenting? Do you hate sin? Do you hate the evil deeds you have committed? Or do you love sin and let it run your life? Is God first and foremost in your life? Have you made any idol that you love more than God? I don't mean just "American Idol," like a popstar, but even a holiday, or material possession like a car, or video game. Even a football or hockey team can be carved idols if you worship them more than your Saviour. Which brings you joy in life?

Do you hate sin so much you want it to perish and be out of your life forever because it pulls you away from your relationship with God?

Jesus Chooses You

John 15:16
You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.

O' Lord, my Gracious Father in Heaven, Merciful God and Redeemer, I pray this to the weary Christians:

My brothers and sisters,
If you want to bear good fruit and bear good witness to others. First you must humble yourselves to God and swallow your pride. Pride has no room in the Kingdom of God. You must be a servant for God alone. The World will reject you because you are not part of the World as Jesus is not part of this World either. But love the fellow man as Jesus loved you. You must accept what God's Son Jesus did on the cross for you. God punished His son for hours of iniquities, died on the cross, and rose three days after to prove that He is the Lord. Confess your sins now and turn 180 degrees to Christ as your Saviour and redeemer of eternal life.
I pray this in Jesus name,
Amen.

Verses to study:
Genesis 26:22
Proverbs 17:14
Proverbs 20:3
Proverbs 26:17
Matthew 12:18-21
Titus 3:9-11
2 Timothy 2:14-26

I Surrender

And He Loves You Anyway

Then Watch Part 5 of 5.

Jesus Speaks on Slavery - Cartoon